Robert Dyas

Robert Dyas was bought in July 2012 by Theo Paphitis, one of the former investors on TV’s Dragons’ Den. Since then, the company has shown improved year-on-year results and driven a programme of investments in marketing, buying and merchandising initiatives. But the foundations of this success and of being a helpful shopkeeper started over 140 years ago with a fiver. That’s how much Robert Dyas had to invest when he emigrated from County Meath in Ireland. He set up his first shop in London in 1872 and by the time he died, he had established and a strong family business with 18 stores. The last of the sons and grandsons who took over, sadly passed away in 2002. We’ve survived several setbacks, including the economic depression after World War I and twice having our Head Office and warehouse destroyed, firstly along with 18 stores in the Blitz of World War II, then again to fire in Croydon in 1997. In each case, the team spirit that typifies the organisation ensured we came back stronger than ever.

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