Theo Paphitis

“I am a great believer that the risk should reflect the reward.”

“My family's challenges meant we lived hand to mouth. There were weeks when we had neither electricity nor heating.”

“I didn't have a great childhood, and neither did Debbie, my wife, so we both try to give the kids not only the material things we never had but also the hugs and the love.”

“Entrepreneurship is just one thing that needs to be in schools.”

“Online is not contributing in the same way as the high street in terms of business rates and to the local community.”

“Souvenirs always tend to look great when you see them in some exotic souk but awful when you finally get them back home. They tend to start in my study and eventually get demoted to the gara...”

“I can walk all day in malls, shopping centres, high streets - I love it.”

“When I went to school, most parents wanted their children to get good A-levels, to go to university, and get a degree so your children had a better life than you. The way out of poverty was...”

“A lot of multinationals have long, drawn-out processes and are pretty useless at putting products on the shelves quickly.”

“Every successful high street needs a catalyst that starts making people want to come there, and independent shops can be that catalyst. If you want a new idea on the high street, you'll prob...”

“I started work at 13, had three or four part-time jobs, and learnt very quickly the values of work.”

“The Internet has heralded a revolution in our society. It has transformed the way we do business, entertain, communicate, and travel. In many ways, the change has been positive. The web has...”