MILFORD — Downtown Milford has a new destination for shoppers seeking style with a twist. The Collective, a boutique offering a curated mix of fashion, accessories, furniture, and gifts, opened Aug. 9 at 33 N. Walnut St. to enthusiastic crowds and strong sales, marking a confident start for the family-run business.
The store is the vision of longtime retailers Ashlee Payton and Brynn Byerly, who, along with their husbands, decided to merge their individual businesses from Lewes and plant roots in Milford. While the decision came with hesitation, Byerly’s connection to her hometown and belief in its future tipped the scales.
“Moving here felt like a leap of faith, but it was the right one,” Payton said. “We reached our first-week sales goal and have already seen the kind of support that shows us we made the right choice.”
A Fresh Vibe for Downtown
Community leaders say The Collective is more than a boutique — it’s an experience that reflects the growth and energy downtown Milford has worked to cultivate in recent years.
“This is the synergy of cool and sassy that Milford needed,” said Sade Truitt, executive director of Downtown Milford, Inc. “It’s going to bring a new crowd downtown.”
Inside, Payton and Byerly describe their venture as both personal and communal. “Welcome to The Collective — a family business built on big dreams, creative vision, and a whole lot of teamwork,” Byerly said. “While our creative eye drives the design, we can’t forget our husbands who are the behind-the-scenes muscle helping us bring every vision to life. Together, we’ve built something that’s more than a store — it’s a community.”
What Shoppers Will Find
The Collective’s tagline, “Innovative Style • Thoughtful Design,” sums up its wide-ranging inventory:
Clothing & Accessories: Trend-forward pieces for women and men, including Milford zip-code pillows, “LOCAL” and “Del Made” men’s apparel, and bold statement shirts like “Sweet, But Psycho” or “You did not wake up today to be a weak ass bitch.”
Furniture & Home Décor: Refinished antique pieces, hand-painted by the owners, blending rustic charm with modern flair. Payton and Byerly often purchase items from the antique store across the street, update them, and offer them as one-of-a-kind finds.
Gifts & Conversation Starters: Playful, cheeky items like hand towels declaring “Bitch, Let’s Have Brunch” or décor that embraces sass and humor.
But Payton says the store is about more than merchandise. “Here, the door is always open for every single soul,” she said. “Whether you’re popping in for a good laugh, hunting down a cute outfit, shopping furniture that makes your house feel like home, or simply looking for friendship, you belong here.”
Innovation and Attitude
That sense of welcome is coupled with an emphasis on individuality. “At The Collective, we pride ourselves on helping people step into their truest selves and live boldly outside the norms of society,” Byerly said. “We’re not about cookie-cutter trends — we’re about carefully curating clothing, accessories, furniture, and décor that inspire you to express your individuality.”
The store embraces a playful, high-energy tone, often surprising first-time visitors. One shopper remarked, “It’s stylish, exciting, and fun — you don’t expect to find this kind of energy in Milford.”
A Creative Business Model
The Collective also incorporates upcycled furniture into its offerings. Payton and Byerly often buy pieces from the antique store across the street, refinish and repaint them, and then resell them in-store. Each piece reflects a modern twist on classic finds, connecting the boutique to the wider downtown shopping ecosystem.
“Think of us as your fashion friendship and design dream team,” Payton said with a laugh. “It’s a space that will leave you feeling inspired, refreshed, and maybe — just maybe — a little broke from buying all the things. 😂🤣 But even then, we pride ourselves on affordability. At the end of the day, The Collective isn’t just where you shop — it’s where you belong.”
Building on Milford’s Momentum
For downtown Milford, the arrival of The Collective adds momentum to ongoing efforts to revitalize the city’s core as a destination for both locals and visitors. In recent years, new restaurants, art galleries, and specialty shops have joined long-standing businesses, creating a more vibrant Main Street atmosphere.
“The fact that two experienced businesswomen with established success in Lewes chose Milford says a lot about where the community is headed,” Truitt said.
Byerly agreed, noting that her hometown has changed significantly in recent years. “Milford has a lot of potential, and we’re proud to be part of its future,” she said.
Where to Find The Collective
The Collective is located at 33 N. Walnut St. in Milford. The boutique is open to shoppers looking for fashion-forward clothing, unique gifts, and reimagined home décor. For more information, call (302) 233-1858 or visit the Milford Chamber of Commerce directory listing.
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