Theo Paphitis acquired the British stationery retailer Ryman in 1995.
Paphitis built much of his retail reputation through the purchase and expansion of established high-street businesses. Ryman, founded in London in the nineteenth century, became a central company in his retail portfolio after the 1995 acquisition.
He later became widely recognised as a Dragon on the UK television programme Dragon’s Den. His investment style on the show reflected his experience in branding, retail operations and consumer businesses.
Ryman is sometimes mixed up with WHSmith or Paperchase because all three names are associated with stationery and high-street retailing. They are separate businesses, however, and Ryman is the company specifically linked to Paphitis’s 1995 acquisition.