Founders

Founders
Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz are New Yorkers to their
core. Sarcastic and witty in equal measure, the pair heed their
mothers’ advice, appreciate a dog-friendly hotel and love a foreign
pharmacy.

Establishing their first local apothecary in New York’s Chelsea
neighbourhood in March 2004, since then the duo have opened up
(MALIN+GOETZ)
to a global audience. With outposts in London and Los Angeles, they
manage to maintain a local vibe.

Where are you from and how has that shaped or inspired
you?

Andrew: I’m from New York. New York is an
incredibly polite, kind and spotlessly clean city; vertical
serenity at its best. It’s also a good place to develop a
well-honed sense of humour – it has certainly shaped and inspired
mine.

Matthew: I am from the Midwest – Detroit, Michigan. It’s often
called the heartland of the US and is known for farming, industrial
manufacturing and a strong work ethic. I like to think that some of
that work ethic and wholesomeness may have rubbed off on me.

Why did you choose New York’s Chelsea as the location for your
first shop?

Andrew: Our first shop in Chelsea was chosen
because we happen to live in the same building. We were very eager
to cut down on our subway expenses.

Matthew: We already lived in Chelsea. It was
our neighbourhood, and the place that felt most appropriate to set
up a local shop or apothecary thanks to its young, affluent,
international and diverse people. What better customer for a luxury
unisex skincare brand for all?

Must-visit spots in Chelsea include…

Andrew: Without stating the obvious, I’m going
to state the obvious: (MALIN+GOETZ). After that, no trip to Chelsea
would be complete without a stroll down or, as the case may be, up
the High Line. West Chelsea is the heart of New York’s art gallery
district; you could spend days here. There is also great shopping
at Barney’s in Chelsea and a fantastic food hall at the Chelsea
Market on 15th Street and 9th.

Matthew: Chelsea is rich in a variety of
cultures. Spanning over ten blocks, the gallery district is most
notable for those interested in art. The Joyce
Theatre is an often-overlooked dance venue of the highest
calibre.

What are some of your favourite local family-owned businesses
in New York?

Andrew: If you fancy amazing smoked sturgeon
and salmon, you can either head to Barney Greengrass on Amsterdam Avenue or Russ & Daughters on East Houston Street. If you
favour sweet over savoury, there is Veniero’s, an Italian bakery on East 11th Street. I
love all the family-owned Korean barbecue restaurants along 32nd
Street. The Guggenheim’s have done a nice job with their museum. My
least favourite is Trump Tower, hands down; it’s tacky and vulgar
and not nearly as tall as they say it is.

Matthew: Wow. So many. Our candles are
hand-poured in Brooklyn by a father-and-son team. I hope we do our
part with our four shops as well.

You develop each product yourselves; how long is the process
from design to distribution?

Matthew: It really depends on the product,
luck, the chemist, etc. We have done it in under six months but on
average about a year. One item, our Eucalyptus Deodorant, took over
four years.

What are you working on at the moment?

Matthew: So much. We are considering two new
store locations, looking at international wholesale expansion,
we’re in the process of our new Advanced Renewal Moisturiser
launch, have plans for PR trips to LA and Hong Kong over the next
few months and many new products in development for the next year.
Exciting stuff.

Are there any plans to expand your portfolio of neighbourhood
apothecaries in New York, Los Angeles and London?

Andrew: There are indeed. We are working on a
shop in Brooklyn, always looking in LA and
have two spots on our radar in London.

How do your products wind up in certain hotel bathrooms and
what’s involved in the hotel cherry-picking process?

Andrew: My mother. She travels a great deal and
hopelessly leaves products behind wherever she goes. We also have a
proper Hotel Amenity Program. Design is really important to us, so
we always look for properties where design is an integral part of
the hotel experience. We tend to like smaller more intimate
properties – places that Matthew and Mr. Greenberg (our pug) would
like to stay ourselves. Dog-friendly is always a plus.

What do you think makes a good hotel?

Andrew: It depends on your likes and needs; a
good hotel for business may be very different to a good hotel for
when you are on holiday. Besides the obvious – such as a really
nice bathroom and comfortable bed – good hotels need great service.
It makes you feel incredibly welcome when someone greets you in the
lobby or the restaurant: “Hello Mr. Greenberg, how are you today?
Can we help you with anything?” Honestly, it really does not get
better than that!

Your top five hotels…

Andrew: At the risk offending any of our
coveted Hotel Amenity Partners or my mother’s hard work, I’m going
to do something very American, and take the Fifth.

Matthew: Ditto.

(MALIN + GOETZ) bestsellers include…

Grapefruit Face Cleanser,
Vitamin E Face Moisturiser,
Eucalyptus Deodorant, Peppermint Shampoo, Cannabis Candle and Dark Rum Eau de Parfum.

Any advice on countering the negative effects that city living
has on your skin?

Andrew: Be sure to always wash and moisturise
your face twice a day. A glass or two of wine is really good
too.

What are your favourite travel products from your
collection?

Andrew: Our Travel Ready Essential Toiletries
Kit is good for those on the go – and of course our Travel Size
Eucalyptus Deodorant.

Skincare essentials for jetsetters…

Andrew: If you are jetting and setting, chances
are you are going to be very dehydrated, so keeping your skin
gently cleansed and moisturised is a must. Drinking lots of water
is also really important.

As dog owners, have you any advice for travelling with
animals?

Andrew: Splurge on the extra legroom seats.
Also, check your bags so you can focus on the dog, not your gear,
and make sure you have all your paperwork in order. I also like to
send Mr. Greenberg’s tinned food to the hotel so I don’t have to
lug it around in my suitcase.

What are you reading at the moment?

Andrew: I usually read a couple of books at a
time. I just started All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
and I am really enjoying it.

Matthew: Andrew is much better than me about
literature these days. However, I subscribe to almost every fashion
and beauty magazine. I’m also an amateur gardener and have a
library of gardening books that offer immense pleasure, insight,
knowledge and inspiration.

Your favourite apps…

Andrew: I love my BBC iPlayer and my WNYC
(public radio and podcasts). I also love my Nest app; it allows me
to turn on the heating in our farmhouse before we arrive.

Matthew: Dark Skies, for the weather. It
affects my skincare use and shoe choices.

Podcasts to download for our flight…

Andrew: I listen to a lot of podcasts. The
Daily from the New York Times, The New Yorker Radio Hour, On the
Media and Radiolab from WNYC, The Why Factor and How to Invent a
Country from BBC, Freakonomics, among others…

Matthew: I am lucky to benefit from Andrew’s
recommendations and suggestions. He is quite the podcast junky. I
do love This American Life.

What would you do to improve airports?

Andrew: Avoid them when possible, and take the
train. Since that’s not always possible, it would be nice if they
could improve the food situation.

Matthew: Faster and smoother clearance that is
somehow less demoralising. A great bathroom experience helps
too.

One piece of travel advice…

Andrew: Be curious.

Matthew: Manage sleep, especially when
travelling through time zones. It is the key to health for me.

And finally, what’s in your SUITCASE?

Andrew: At the moment, just air.

Matthew: Always as little as possible. We are
lucky to travel with a supply of samples from our brand (and/ or
stay in hotels that carry our brand). I will have laundry done on a
trip to limit the clothes I need to carry and will bring workout
gear if I can.