Even though the companies are the top two office-supply chains, combined they would control no more than 6 percent of the nation's $185 billion market for office products.

A18 P.T.A. Endorses Supply Chain The National P.T.A. has agreed to let its name and logo appear, for a fee, in back-to-school advertisements by a large office-supply chain.

The retailing entrepreneur, who co-founded the Staples discount office-supply chain, hired Mr. MacDougall to create advertising for his Purity Supreme supermarket chain.

Office Depot, the office-supply retail chain in Delray Beach, Fla., said yesterday that it had selected Wyse Advertising in Cleveland to handle its account, with billings estimated at $30 million.

Staples, the office-supply retail chain, has narrowed a review for its broadcast creative account, with billings estimated at $50 million to $70 million, to four agencies from nine.

Among the companies is Staples, an office-supply chain.

An office-supply chain, Staples, has bought about 19 acres and is constructing a warehouse and assembly plant to serve its stores throughout the northeast.

As an adult, Mr. Pilmar eventually took over the business, helping his father fend off competition from national office-supply chains and, after a trip to Seattle in 1992, creating the combined store and coffee bar.

Staples, the office-supply retail chain, said yesterday that it had selected Martin/Williams Advertising in Minneapolis to handle its broadcast creative account.

The assignment is the second recent major gain for DeVito/Verdi, coming after the agency was named to handle the estimated $40 million account of Office Depot Inc., the office-supply retail chain.