The man who delivers laughs, one pizza at a time

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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - After a string of social media adverts that had many Georgians in stitches, George Herald decided it was time to meet the funny man behind the scenes.

Enter Craig Horn, owner of Pizza Perfect in George and Knysna. Horn quite literally does not miss a beat. The moment something newsworthy pops up, he is there with an advert, jumping at the opportunity for maximum chuckles and, of course, drawing attention to his business.

His most recent advert reassured concerned South Africans that Eben Etzebeth already has a back-up job at Pizza Perfect as its next fearless delivery man, ready to conquer the Kaaimans Pass.

This followed Etzebeth's scuffle with Welsh flank Alex Mann, which resulted in a 12-week ban. At the time, many South Africans were not sure if Etzebeth's rugby career was done for good, so Horn came up with a back-up plan: "Eben would be the perfect fit, because, honestly, who would argue with him if their pizza arrived late?"

The advert that caught our eye. Let's hope Eben takes him up on that free pizza offer.

Horn's passion for this kind of creativity started years ago. He has always been artistically inclined and spent years handling marketing for his previous companies. He also worked as a DJ for over 25 years, performing at festivals like Alien Safari and Vortex, as well as at corporate events. He still freelances as a DJ, but now focuses on running his two businesses.

He admits growing up watching perhaps a little too much Monty Python, which he reckons explains how his brain works. He studied art and graphic design, and according to him, whenever something happens, jokes are always floating around in his head.

He comes up with many advert ideas, then narrows them down to avoid trouble. He laughs that most never see the light of day, but he enjoys pushing the envelope.

One of the many catchy adverts created by Craig Horn, owner of Pizza Perfect in George and Knysna.

As a business owner, most of the marketing is out of necessity, but it also lets him make people laugh. Without the funds for a marketing manager, he uses his own skills to create eye-catching adverts.

He notes that smaller retailers now compete with large chains selling similar, in his opinion inferior, products for less. He refuses to compromise on quality and makes a point of keeping his business top of mind. "The key is to think out of the box - no pun intended," Horn says.

Watch the video interview with Horn here:

There is a fine line, though, and he avoids making light of tragedy while keeping his finger on the pulse of what's happening.

Asked about future marketing aspirations, Horn said he has already been approached by several retailers and would gladly take on such work in his spare time.

So the next time one of Horn's adverts pops up on your timeline, give him a shout-out. He's the reason many of us are laughing even before the pizza arrives.

Craig Horn seizes the opportunity after a Karoo leopard sighting that had the internet buzzing.