5 Business Tips from our Favorite Christmas Movies
We all have that special list of Christmas movies we watch every year. My list includes Home Alone, A Walt Disney Christmas, and all the others listed below. Today I want to take you on a holiday journey that shows how our favorite Christmas films relate to our businesses. Oh, by the way SPOILERS AHEAD!
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A Christmas Carol: 1951
The Tip: Don’t forget about your customers and employees.
Most of us know this well-loved tale and watch it every Christmas. A Christmas Carol has been remade countless times, but no version can top my personal favorite from 1951 starring Alastair Sim. In the beginning of the film Scrooge is a “tight-fisted hand at the grindstone,” who loses sight of his strongest assets: employees and customers. Remember that a little goes a long way and take a moment to show your appreciation. Although, in A Christmas Carol, that meant handing out coal and geese which I think would be a little bit odd nowadays.
Scene it?
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The Santa Clause: 1994
The Tip: Don’t lose sight of your audience.
This is another one of my favorites. In one scene Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is sitting in at a meeting with his company (Toy Manufacturing). They begin going through storyboards for their new toy, The Total Tank. The boards depict Santa driving a tank and Scott Calvin immediately points out the flaws in this terrible idea. Be careful not to lose sight of your audience is and the core message you’re trying to communicate.
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A Christmas Story: 1983
The Tip: Customers appreciate thoughtful marketing.
First off, I recently learned Mark has never seen this movie. I thought I knew the meaning of travesty – now I know I was mistaken. I’ve seen this movie too many times to count, but to give you an idea: Every Christmas Eve my family turns on the 24hr ABC family marathon. It’s just that good.
(PS: If you are a A Christmas Story marathoner like me, you may find this to be a fun excerise this Christmas Eve: 25 Things to Look for While Watching the 24-Hour A Christmas Story Marathon.)
Throughout the film Ralphie hounds the mailbox waiting in anticipation for his Little Orphan Annie Decoder Pin. After finally receiving it, he tunes into his favorite radio show and decodes his first secret message from Little Orphan Annie. To his extreme disappointment the message was a commercial to drink more Ovaltine. Sometimes it’s best to connect with your customers without making a sale. This is one of the 7 great points Amanda makes in her post, “Seven Reasons Taylor Swift is Better at Marketing Than The Rest of Us.”
Scene it?
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas: 2000
The Tip: Never give up!
Although the theme of never giving up is in pretty much the core theme of every single Christmas movie, this film starring Jim Carrey stands out to me. Throughout this film Cindy Lou Who (who epitomizes the can-do spirit) climbs Mount Crumpit on a daily basis because she believes, despite his dastardly deeds, the Grinch should be a part of Whoville’s Christmas. It isn’t until the end of the movie that she melts his cold heart and spends Christmas with him because, “No one should be alone on Christmas.” The idea behind this is to always persevere and never give up. Whether you’re starting a new business, expanding a service line, or beginning a marketing campaign, keeping a positive attitude goes a long way.
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. –F. Scott Fitzgerald
Scene it?
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Christmas Vacation: 1989
The Tip: Expect the unexpected. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong.
This is another comedic Christmas film I love to watch every year. Throughout this film, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) tries everything in his power to make his family’s Christmas perfect. Yet, the harder he tries, the worse things get. By the end of the movie the tree has been burnt to a crisp, the Christmas turkey has been overcooked to the point of being jerky, his brother-in-law has emptied his RV’s septic tank into the sewer, and, to top it off, his Christmas bonus has been replaced with a Jelly of the Month club membership. We’ve all had bad days where nothing seems to go right. Taking extra precautions can help avoid situations like this. Amanda gives some great tips regarding this in another of her posts, “Do You Have a Back-Up Plan?”
Of course, these are only a few of the many Christmas movies out there. Do you have a holiday movie you and your family watch every year? Which version of A Christmas Carol is your favorite? We want to know!