Theo Paphitis acquired Ryman in 1995 before appearing on the British show Dragons' Den.
Ryman is a British stationery and office-supplies retailer. Paphitis's acquisition of the chain formed an important part of his retail career and helped establish the commercial reputation he later brought to Dragons' Den.
Paphitis became known for investing in and developing consumer-facing businesses, particularly in retail. On the programme, his questions often focused on sales channels, margins, branding and whether a product could scale beyond a small launch.
Ryman is sometimes mistaken for a company Paphitis merely invested in or advised. The significant fact is that he acquired the retailer in 1995. His Dragons' Den appearances came later, after he had built a substantial business portfolio.