Which original Dragon acquired the British stationery retailer Ryman in 1995?

Theo Paphitis acquired the British stationery retailer Ryman in 1995.

Paphitis became a prominent British retail entrepreneur after taking control of Ryman. The chain sells stationery and related office products, and its development helped establish Paphitis as one of the country’s best-known retail investors.

He joined the original Dragons' Den panel when the BBC programme launched in 2005. His retail experience made him especially interested in branding, distribution, store economics and the practical route from a promising product to a scalable business.

The acquisition date is an important detail because Paphitis had already built a substantial commercial reputation before his television career. He is sometimes mixed up with Peter Jones, another original Dragon with major retail and technology interests, but Ryman is specifically associated with Paphitis.