Jasmine Willis: Building a Life of Purpose, Pawprints and Quiet Determination
Interviewed and written by Rebecca Padgett
When Rebecca Padgett sat down with Jasmine Willis, she was greeted with a warm smile and an easy honesty that set the tone for everything that followed.
"I’d love for you to tell me… who are you? Who is Jasmine Cain? Where did it all begin?”
Jasmine paused for a moment, reflecting on how far her life had already taken her.
“My name’s Jasmine Cain,” she said — though today she is known as Jasmine Willis — “and I started out
very different to how people might expect.”
She admitted she was always academic at school, someone who worked hard and achieved strong results.
“I was always very clever at school,” she said. “A bit of a swot, really. It’s crazy because Harry (her brother) was not so much like that, so it’s weird how we’ve both ended up following such similar paths in different ways.”
After finishing her A-levels, Jasmine began an apprenticeship at Barclays. Numbers, structure and
financial systems came naturally to her.
“I love numbers,” she explained. “Financial things were really good for me.”
She progressed quickly, but even at just 20 years old, something inside her knew the corporate path wasn’t forever. She made a decision that would quietly change everything — she applied for a career break.
“I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do forever,” she said. “But I wasn’t really sure what I did want to do either.”
During that break, she travelled to Spain with her horses — an experience she thought might only happen once.
"I’d love for you to tell me… who are you? Who is Jasmine Cain? Where did it all begin?”
Jasmine paused for a moment, reflecting on how far her life had already taken her.
“My name’s Jasmine Cain,” she said — though today she is known as Jasmine Willis — “and I started out
very different to how people might expect.”
She admitted she was always academic at school, someone who worked hard and achieved strong results.
“I was always very clever at school,” she said. “A bit of a swot, really. It’s crazy because Harry (her brother) was not so much like that, so it’s weird how we’ve both ended up following such similar paths in different ways.”
After finishing her A-levels, Jasmine began an apprenticeship at Barclays. Numbers, structure and
financial systems came naturally to her.
“I love numbers,” she explained. “Financial things were really good for me.”
She progressed quickly, but even at just 20 years old, something inside her knew the corporate path wasn’t forever. She made a decision that would quietly change everything — she applied for a career break.
“I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do forever,” she said. “But I wasn’t really sure what I did want to do either.”
During that break, she travelled to Spain with her horses — an experience she thought might only happen once.
“I honestly thought, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said. “I’ll probably never get to do this again.”
But it planted a seed.
“I came back and thought, I’ve got 12 months to decide what I want to do so I can one day go back
there on my own terms.”
It was an unexpected suggestion from her aunt that shifted everything. Jasmine had always been
surrounded by animals, and she often found herself grooming dogs for family and friends.
“She said, ‘Why don’t you do a dog grooming course?’” Jasmine recalled.
At the time, there were only a handful of groomers in her local area, and she could sense an opportunity — but more importantly, she felt a connection.
“I’ve grown up with animals all my life,” she said. “So I was confident around them. I just knew how to be
with them.”
The course lasted just two weeks, but within the first week, something clicked. She was doing well —
naturally, instinctively.
“We came up with the name Cain9 Design after week one,” she said with a smile. “It just worked. It was
meant to be. I was supposed to be in dogs.”
Before she had even finished her training, she had her first customer — a tiny Yorkshire Terrier named
Pepper.
From there, Cain9 Design was born in the most humble of beginnings. Dogs were washed in her
parents’ bathroom. Equipment was basic. The setup was improvised.
But it planted a seed.
“I came back and thought, I’ve got 12 months to decide what I want to do so I can one day go back
there on my own terms.”
It was an unexpected suggestion from her aunt that shifted everything. Jasmine had always been
surrounded by animals, and she often found herself grooming dogs for family and friends.
“She said, ‘Why don’t you do a dog grooming course?’” Jasmine recalled.
At the time, there were only a handful of groomers in her local area, and she could sense an opportunity — but more importantly, she felt a connection.
“I’ve grown up with animals all my life,” she said. “So I was confident around them. I just knew how to be
with them.”
The course lasted just two weeks, but within the first week, something clicked. She was doing well —
naturally, instinctively.
“We came up with the name Cain9 Design after week one,” she said with a smile. “It just worked. It was
meant to be. I was supposed to be in dogs.”
Before she had even finished her training, she had her first customer — a tiny Yorkshire Terrier named
Pepper.
From there, Cain9 Design was born in the most humble of beginnings. Dogs were washed in her
parents’ bathroom. Equipment was basic. The setup was improvised.
“I had a table downstairs, a human hairdryer, and a couple of scissors,” she laughed.
It wasn’t long before the reality of grooming life made itself known — especially when a husky turned her family home into chaos.
“My mum said, ‘Right, that’s it. You’re not doing it in my bathroom anymore,’” she said.
A small room at the side of the house became her first proper grooming space. From there, the business grew steadily and organically.
Three years later, Cain9 Design moved into a purpose-built facility. Today, it stands alongside Cain9 Camp, her doggy daycare business, both built on the same philosophy: quality over quantity.
When COVID arrived, Jasmine faced one of her biggest challenges yet. The daycare had only just begun, and uncertainty loomed.
“It was like, oh no… is this going to make it?” she said. “But we just kept going.”
Her approach never changed — the dogs came first.
“They’re like family to us,” she explained. “We know their habits. We know what they like. That’s what matters.”
Her love for animals is deeply personal. Her dog Roo, she says, is at the heart of everything.
“My dog Roo is my why,” she said simply. “That feeling people have about their dogs — that’s what we work on every day.”
Life, however, has brought more than business growth. Jasmine is now also a mother to baby Sofia, just weeks old at the time of the interview.
It wasn’t long before the reality of grooming life made itself known — especially when a husky turned her family home into chaos.
“My mum said, ‘Right, that’s it. You’re not doing it in my bathroom anymore,’” she said.
A small room at the side of the house became her first proper grooming space. From there, the business grew steadily and organically.
Three years later, Cain9 Design moved into a purpose-built facility. Today, it stands alongside Cain9 Camp, her doggy daycare business, both built on the same philosophy: quality over quantity.
When COVID arrived, Jasmine faced one of her biggest challenges yet. The daycare had only just begun, and uncertainty loomed.
“It was like, oh no… is this going to make it?” she said. “But we just kept going.”
Her approach never changed — the dogs came first.
“They’re like family to us,” she explained. “We know their habits. We know what they like. That’s what matters.”
Her love for animals is deeply personal. Her dog Roo, she says, is at the heart of everything.
“My dog Roo is my why,” she said simply. “That feeling people have about their dogs — that’s what we work on every day.”
Life, however, has brought more than business growth. Jasmine is now also a mother to baby Sofia, just weeks old at the time of the interview.
“It’s another incredible experience,” she said. “It makes you look at everything differently.”
She also spoke with emotion about how motherhood has reshaped her perspective.
“I’m so inspired by women now,” she said. “You don’t realise what the body can do until you go through it yourself.”
Balancing motherhood, horses, and two businesses is no small task, but Jasmine remains grounded.
“I’m such a home girl,” she said. “I love being at home and making it feel like a place for everyone.”
Her horse Minnie has been a constant throughout her adult life — a companion through milestones, change and growth.
“She’s been with me through everything,” Jasmine said. “She was at my wedding. She’s seen me build the businesses. She’s seen me have a baby.”
Looking ahead, Jasmine’s ambitions are simple but meaningful: continue growing her businesses,
spend time with family, and one day bring Sofia into the world she has created.
“I’d love to take her to the horses,” she said. “That would be my dream — to do a full circle.”
Reflecting on her journey — from Barclays apprentice to business owner, from Spain with her horses to
building Cain9 Design and Cain9 Camp — Jasmine speaks with quiet gratitude.
Known to many locally as Jasmine Cain through the success of Cain9 Design and Cain9 Camp, Jasmine Willis reflects on a journey where every pawprint, every challenge and every leap of faith has helped create a life filled with purpose, family and fulfilment.
She also spoke with emotion about how motherhood has reshaped her perspective.
“I’m so inspired by women now,” she said. “You don’t realise what the body can do until you go through it yourself.”
Balancing motherhood, horses, and two businesses is no small task, but Jasmine remains grounded.
“I’m such a home girl,” she said. “I love being at home and making it feel like a place for everyone.”
Her horse Minnie has been a constant throughout her adult life — a companion through milestones, change and growth.
“She’s been with me through everything,” Jasmine said. “She was at my wedding. She’s seen me build the businesses. She’s seen me have a baby.”
Looking ahead, Jasmine’s ambitions are simple but meaningful: continue growing her businesses,
spend time with family, and one day bring Sofia into the world she has created.
“I’d love to take her to the horses,” she said. “That would be my dream — to do a full circle.”
Reflecting on her journey — from Barclays apprentice to business owner, from Spain with her horses to
building Cain9 Design and Cain9 Camp — Jasmine speaks with quiet gratitude.
Known to many locally as Jasmine Cain through the success of Cain9 Design and Cain9 Camp, Jasmine Willis reflects on a journey where every pawprint, every challenge and every leap of faith has helped create a life filled with purpose, family and fulfilment.
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