A FORMER thespian who was told his bonsai tree shop would not last six weeks is celebrating 25 years of business.

Eric Danot, 53, walked the boards for 25 years but gave up when he realised he was not going to see his name in lights.

When an opportunity to open a shop came up in Sydney Street, Brighton, even he scoffed at the idea.

Eric was persuaded to trade out his childhood hobby despite roles in TV and the West End.

He proved the sceptics wrong with Bonsai KO and would not swap his life as a trader to be an actor again.

He said: “When the North Laine Traders welcomed me to the area they said I wouldn’t last six weeks.

“I had no business planning and no market research. I jumped in with both feet without a clue what was going to happen.

“You learn from your mistakes. I was lucky to have a really good supplier who believed in what I was doing and was understanding of bills being paid.

“After ten years I began to get the hang of it.”

To mark 25 years of business he planned to offer bonsai trees at 1990 prices.

But when he realised that would actually make his produce more expensive he will offer a 25% discount instead.

Eric is one of a small handful of traders who have lasted quarter of a century in the area.

He has carved out a niche for himself as the only bonsai retailer in the city and has customers who travel from London.

Though he does not consider himself an expert he has appeared on TV talking about bonsai trees.

He said: “People always assume bonsai is a variety of tree but it’s just a technique.

“I give free information and trimming and pruning lessons.

“If I don’t think customers have the right conditions I tell them not to buy. I don’t want them to die because then they won’t come back.

“Some trees are on their second generation. For a tree to last 1,000 years is not unusual. I always say you never own them, you hand them on to the next person.

“It becomes a family tree.”