Illume Books Student Fellowship

The Illume Student Fellowship is a hands-on summer internship based at Illume Books (a highly curated, community-focused bookstore) designed for students (sophomores-juniors enrolled in college), interested in entrepreneurship, small business ownership, and retail with a creative edge. Running from June 1 through mid-August, fellows commit 20–30 hours per week and are paid $15/hour, with two fellows splitting daily shifts. What sets this internship apart is that participants don’t just assist, they actively operate, experiment, and make decisions inside a real, thoughtfully curated retail space where every display, title, and customer interaction matters. Each week blends on-the-floor work (customer interaction, inventory, register operations, and marketing), independent project time, and a one-hour mentorship session focused on how the business actually makes money, learning from mistakes, and making decisions under uncertainty.

At its core, the fellowship emphasizes creation over routine work. Fellows take ownership of meaningful projects within the store, such as launching new event concepts, improving underperforming areas, or designing themed merchandising experiences that reflect Illume’s identity. They also complete a “build something” project, developing and validating their own business idea. The program culminates in a final presentation where fellows share their work, impact, and ideas with staff and members of the Illume community. By the end, fellows walk away with real experience running parts of a business, a portfolio of completed projects, stronger decision-making confidence, the opportunity to earn a letter of recommendation, and skills that will last a lifetime.