Which Dragon's Den investor acquired the Ryman stationery chain in 1995?

Dragon's Den investor Theo Paphitis acquired the Ryman stationery chain in 1995.

Paphitis purchased Ryman, a British retailer specialising in stationery, office supplies and related products. Under his ownership, the chain became a central part of his retail portfolio and a major source of his public business profile.

He later became associated with other British consumer brands, including Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue. His career is often described as a retail turnaround story because he focused on buying, restructuring and developing established brands rather than building only one company from scratch.

The year 1995 is important because it marks the acquisition that helped establish Paphitis as a major retail entrepreneur. It is easy to confuse Ryman with another Dragon’s company because several investors have owned or backed well-known high-street businesses. The specific pairing is Theo Paphitis and Ryman, while his television role came later when he joined the Dragon's Den panel.