RELATABLE TAPS COOKBOOK MEDIA'S ROB BENCAL IN STRATEGIC MOVE TO EXPAND LICENSING & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS

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Dec 05, 2023, 11:21 ET

Bencal serves as premiere licensing consultant to foster connections for leading entertainment-driven consumer products company.

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Relatable, a Gen Z and Millennial focused entertainment company and leading manufacturer of the viral card game sensation What Do You Meme?, has partnered with Rob Bencal, co-founder of premier global franchise management agency Cookbook Media, as an executive licensing consultant to create new opportunities and relationships with IP owners, studios and brands in the entertainment and consumer packaged goods industry. Building on previous successful licensing partnerships with Paramount Consumer Products (SpongeBob SquarePants), Warner Bros. Consumer Products (Friends The Television Series and Seinfeld), and Jazwares (Squishmallows), Bencal will be instrumental in growing Retable's licensed business and expanding opportunities for the company with new partnerships and collaborations across games and other categories such as wellness and lifestyle products.

Often recognized as the creator of the best-selling, award-winning viral card game sensation What Do You Meme?, Relatable is the industry leader in the adult party games category with successful product introductions catering to the interests of its Gen Z and Millennial audiences. From "plush with purpose" that includes Emotional Support Fries and Menstruation Crustacean, to murder mystery games, and a vast assortment of relationship and adults-only card games, Relatable has also expanded its footprint into the kids and family space with Squishmallows Take4. As a result of its success, the company is looking to partner with other franchised IP with a goal of offering even more joyful entertainment to consumers of all ages.

"Relatable was born a social and digital-first media company, so intrinsically they understand their digital native consumer unlike anyone else in the industry in terms of both product development and marketing. They've already had huge wins with some top entertainment properties and studios, and we will look to expand those relationships even further, but we will also be looking at partnerships and collabs with popular influencers, consumer brands, and up-and-coming properties across video games, podcasts, and other forms of media that appeal to our audience" said Rob Bencal, Licensing Consultant for Relatable and Co-Founder of Cookbook Media. "With over 17 million subscribers across our various social media platforms, promoting and marketing to Gen Z and Millennials is Relatable's "super power" and I think that makes us a top choice for studios and brand owners when choosing a partner to collaborate with. I'm honored and excited to be part of their growth plan for the future."

Prior to co-founding Cookbook Media with fellow industry veteran Claudia Scott-Hansen, Bencal held various senior positions at leading toy and media companies, including a 13-year tenure at Mattel where he oversaw successful toy portfolios for entertainment partnerships with Disney, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks. With the acquisition of HiT Entertainment, Bencal also managed the digital content strategy, media partnerships and content distribution for Mattel's portfolio of brands, including Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Fisher-Price and American Girl.

"Rob shares our creative vision and passion for partnering with licensors who also want to provide best-in-class products that bring joy to fans of all kinds," said Tom Emelo, Chief Strategy Officer at Relatable. "We've had some great successes to date and can't wait to see what's next now that we have Rob on board."

For licensing and partnership inquiries, please visit relatable.com or contact Rob Bencal.

About Relatable
Relatable is a modern entertainment company in the Toy and Game space, inspired by pop culture and social media, with a variety of oﬀerings to spice up game night and daily life. The company recently rebranded from What Do You Meme?, (originally named after its ﬂagship game), to reﬂect its impressive and wide variety of oﬀerings across adult, family, drinking, relationship games, and more. Some of these include Buzzed, Let's Get Deep, the upcoming 2023 launch of Who Killed Mia?, as well as viral hit lifestyle products like the Happy Helpers Menstruation Crustacean heating pad. Co-founded by Ben Kaplan, Elie Ballas, and Elliot Tebele in 2016, Relatable has become the fastest-growing toy and game company in the industry, with more than 30% market share in the adult party games space. Its signature game What Do You Meme? was even crowned Amazon's #1 bestselling game. Products from Relatable are available at retailers such as Walmart, Target, Amazon and online at relatable.com. For more information, visit www.relatable.com and follow along on Instagram at @byrelatable and Tiktok @by_relatable.

Business Contact:
Rob Bencal | Cookbook Media, on behalf of Relatable
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Nicole Brief | Carve Communications
[email protected]

SOURCE Relatable