As a small business owner, you likely haven’t stopped for Christmas. When you do, the answer to a spot of seasonal downtime is universal: watching Christmas films.
You’ll typically find sparkle, romance and good tidings in a festive flick – but there’s often at least one small business at the heart of it. In the spirit of helping you to feel productive without really doing anything productive, we’re taking five Christmas films, ranking their performance and spelling out the pros and cons.
Merry Christmas!
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Love Actually
- Last Christmas
- The Muppet Christmas Carol
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
We see It’s a Wonderful Life through a group of angels looking over George Bailey and how he reached the point of desperation he’s in. George reluctantly took on his father’s bank and loans business following a sudden stroke. George packs up his dreams and keeps his father’s business going, away from the clutches of Bedford Falls’ Chief Fat Cat, Mr Potter. A mistake from long-time colleague, Uncle Billy, sends George spiralling.
Business rating: 4/5
Pros
- George Bailey has community-minded values and builds strong relationships, which rescue him in the end.
- The impact of having an angel (be it investor, mentor, or indeed, guardian). They can show you the truths about your business and you as a business owner.
- He initially handles Uncle Billy’s mistake with good grace, seeing the long-term value in the employee as well as the outcome of the mistake he’s made.
Cons
- George shows us the importance of looking after your mental health. Things can go wrong – gravely wrong – as a small business owner, especially if you’re shouldering the strain by yourself. Share your struggles with your friends, family, colleagues and/or a mental health professional so that your problems don’t overwhelm you like they did for George.
- Meanwhile, George’s father highlights the importance of a solid succession plan. It may have protected the business from the threat of being snatched by Potter, forcing George to give up his dreams to take on the company.
- Delegate tasks so that you can focus on the business, not getting caught up in the day-to-day running of the business.
- Celebrate your successes, even the small ones. They’ll be a helpful reminder of what you get right when you feel as if it’s all crumbling around you.
Love Actually (2003)
There are many threads in the Love Actually tapestry, one of which is Harry’s (Alan Rickman) graphic design company. Though the business appears to be running smoothly and we don’t see a lot of the admin – as it’s terribly unromantic – there are murmurs of unrest in the business. Namely a need for a relationships policy from HR.
Business rating: 3.5/5
Pros
- Honest conversations in the workplace – if it’s affecting workplace relationships, it’s worth having a chat with any colleagues involved, like Harry when he approaches Sarah about her blatant attraction to colleague, Karl.
Cons
- A clandestine relationship affects the overall dynamic of the workplace (looking at you again, Harry). If a colleague makes advances, politely tell them that it’s unprofessional and could have consequences with HR.
Last Christmas (2019)
Co-written by Emma Thompson (pictured). Serial screw-up, Kate Andrich, has been struggling to find meaning in life since having a heart transplant. She got a job as an elf in an all-year-round Christmas shop, the worst place for someone who’s lost their spirit. Once a model employee, she’s fallen into a pit which has affected her work, keenly noticed by her boss. In the oozy fondue fashion of a Christmas film, she finds herself – and her spirit – through a fleeting romance.
Business rating: 3.5/5
Pros
- Boss ‘Santa’, Huang Qing Shin, shows her human side and expresses concern for Kate when she’s at her lowest. Although you’re colleagues, it’s still a human relationship. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to see signs of distress in your employees.
- Having a shop that size in London’s Covent Garden Piazza must mean they’re doing something right – maybe they have an off-season strategy to get them through the rest of the year. Perhaps production needed a shop film set that’s large enough to fit all of the crew. We’ll never know.
Cons
- Don’t publicly humiliate your staff. Calling staff names, like Santa calls Kate ‘Lazy Elf’ or ‘Doesn’t-Do-Any-Work Elf’ is demoralising and leads to high staff turnover.
- Insurance fraud is a bit of a no-no. Though Santa’s efforts were honourable to cover Kate’s mistake in forgetting to lock up, it could still land you in a heap of trouble if you’re caught – including prison, fines and a criminal record.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
The Muppets’ take on the Dickens classic remains a classic in its own right. The felty-fleece adaption mostly stays loyal to the original, centred around Ebenezer Scrooge and his counting house business. We see how his miserly attitude affects the whole town, who are suffering through the cruel Victorian era. Then a visit from the ghosts of past, present and future give him an awakening.
Business rating: 2.5/5
Pros
- Ebenezer shows the capacity for growth, even if it takes something as extreme as an almighty spooking. He learns the lessons and changes his ways.
- Having business partners, living or deceased, Statler or Waldorf, can show you what your first-person perspective can’t. Complementary skills in business partners can elevate your business.
Cons
- The company culture is abysmal. Scrooge should assign Kermit (Bob Cratchit) as the head of the business’ social committee.
- Scrooge must learn that you need to spend money to make money – be that putting money back into the business, nurturing relationships with staff or building an attractive reputation.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas sees Jack Skellington bored of Halloween capers. After a visit to Santaland, with all of its wonderment and cheer, he decides to pinch a few ideas to revive his own operations. And by ‘pinch’, we mean morphing Christmas ideas with a Halloween twist and stealing Santa Claus himself. Disaster ensues, but Jack and Santa mend their rift and put things back the way they were intended.
Business rating: 1.5/5
Pros
- Again, Jack’s character growth brings The Nightmare Before Christmas nearer to feel-good film territory. Relationships are crucial to business success and making amends with rivals, in this case Santa, can bring about fruitful collaborations.
- Setbacks can be a good thing! After realising his Halloween inspired Christmas presents are terrible, Jack gets inspiration for new ideas for the next Halloween celebration.
Cons
- If you’re the face of the business, be yourself. No one wants a skeletal Santa. The first step is knowing your business’ strengths and weaknesses. Do a SWOT analysis – find out more by heading over to How to write a marketing plan.
- Diversify, but in a sensible way. Jack could have explored new Halloween ideas or fresh ideas, rather than ripping off Christmas.
- Jack hasn’t done his market research on Christmas; he doesn’t know the needs of his target audience and is trying to enter a saturated marketplace.
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